A Bellicose Dance

by Patrick M J Lozon

  Under a hastily built shelter, the Showmish captains had formed a small circle, waiting for him.

  "Good afternoon, Captains of the resistance."

  "We had to annihilate some of the enemy vessels, I regret," announced Captain Hushob.

  “We’ve a start given what I see on this beach.” He ran inspecting gaze over the destroyer. A large dark gash ran along its hull, exposing some inner framework. "You think you can you make it spaceworthy again?"

  "Yes," answered Captain Shobotsh. "But it will take some time."

  Ryan glanced down at his chronometer. "Unfortunately, I don't expect we will have an abundance of that, Captain.

  We need to get every workable ship repaired and back into space as soon as possible. Captain Roshesh, I want your technicians to look over those three, especially the one that has work done on it. Someone obviously thought it was worth resurrecting. Captain Hushob, you've secured the area, I presume?"

  "Fully Commander. We have a Signite visitor, as well. He claims he is a member of the resistance and wishes to meet with you."

  "Bring him up. Let's have a talk."

  The Signite was escorted over to the front of the group - a small man, with very pale skin, and a long face. His chin pointed outward at a sharp angle. He approached Ryan with a quick gait, his chest boasting of self-importance. Not the look of a hardened veteran reflected Ryan.

  "You are the one from before, the one who brought down those ships and rescued the slaves aboard?" he said in Trinarieit, pointing towards the derelicts.

  "Yes."

  "I would like to thank you personally for that rescue. It has been said that you crippled a cruiser with only one ship!"

  "Yes, I did that as well."

  The Showmish looked at him with curiosity. This was a piece of information they had not known.

  "Look, I don't have time for thanks and praise. I want to talk to your surviving head-of-military."

  "That's me," the Signite replied quickly.

  Ryan evaluated him. The little man looked away, uncomfortable under his gaze.

  "I need as many troops and ships as you can spare."

  "For what purpose?"

  "To destroy the Xi-Empire," replied Ryan flatly.

  The Signite almost laughed outright, his face twisted with a sarcastic jeer. "How do you intend to do that?" he asked, the critical smirk ugly upon his face.

  Ryan had already decided he did not like this Signite. There was something about him, something that was wrong.

  "You're wasting my time."

  Gem's voice sounded through the vaskpar. "Relay coming in from deep tracing sentry. There is a fleet of vessels approaching, 35 in all. They do not carry the signatures of Xi-Empire vessels."

  "It appears we have visitors approaching," announced Ryan. "We’ll need to launch what we can. Let's move."

  The party broke up without a word, all the officers disbursing to their ships. Ryan glanced over to the Signite who was starting to make his way back into the woods.

  "Grab him!"

  One of the Showmish troopers intercepted the man, making his point clear with his blaster. The Signite’s features drained of all color.

  Captain Hushob gave Ryan a typical Showmish perplexed look, eyes squinted, lips pouted.

  "Captain, why don’t you bring him with you, actually, put him in lockup."

  Hushob nodded acknowledgment and waved to a trooper to escort the Signite back to the captured slaver.

  Ryan waved to his people to get back on the ship. The Signites had already disappeared into the forest. Only a few remained, waiting to talk to him before he left. One intercepted him as he hurried toward the Dancing Queen.

  "Captain, we want to meet up with you again."

  "Fine, just clear out of this area quickly."

  The man seemed to want to say something else.

  Ryan stopped. “I’ve a fleet of ships headed this way. What do you want?”

  “Just to say thanks, and that we, he pointed to the others, we all want to join your forces. We just need to check on our families.”

  “Fair enough. So what are you standing around for? Get going!”

  The Signite gave a half bow and ran off.

  Ryan started jogging, signaling the humans to follow.

  "What's happening?"

  "We have unknowns coming in. Let’s go!"

  They took the hint and filed into the ship without hesitation.

  "Gem, fire her up."

  As the Dancing Queen lifted off, Ryan checked the tracing scans on tactical. The fleet was taking its time on approach.

  "You're right, Gem. These aren't Xi-Empire ships."

  Captain YushTar on deep sentry patrol came up on the communications monitor. "Commander, these vessels are not Xi-Empire. I believe they could be Signite. What are your orders?"

  "I would not automatically assume they are hostile, either. I suggest we hail them."

  "I agree."

  “Monitor my channel.”

  Ryan modified the frequency to Signite known bands. He hailed the oncoming fleet. It took a few attempts to obtain a reply. The hail was acknowledged on the upper frequency range.

  Gem's voice perked up through the vaskpar. "A video translation can be transmitted within this bandwidth, attempting translation."

  A picture of a human appeared on the screen. The image of the man who was transmitting the signal bore the customary uniform of a high ranking officer.

  "This is Commander Ryan James of the Xi-Empire resistance."

  "Hello, Commander, we have been monitoring your activities. I am the Commander Lortay, the commander of… what remains of the Signite fleet. We have an old saying amongst our military, an enemy of my enemy...”

  “Is my friend,” interjected Ryan in fluent Signite. “Yes, I am familiar with this wisdom.”

  “Forgive me for being blunt, Commander, but would you consider an alliance?"

  Ryan laughed. “Aye, friends are hard to come by. I do accept even though you outnumber my forces ten to one.”

  “I would like to meet you, face-to-face, if we could arrange it.”

  “Perhaps on your home planet? I have just the spot picked out.”

  “Absolutely. I’ll be instructing my fleet to take up certain positions, as we cannot be too careful. Expect three ships at your designated landing site.”

  “Commander, assuming you have been monitoring our activities, you should have no reservations in believing we are friends of Signus. As a matter of fact, my future wife is Signite."

  "Indeed. Perhaps I know of her?”

  "Perhaps. Her name is Aviore Tem Enova."

  "By any chance, would you know if she is the former Governor's daughter?"

  "I do believe she is the same."

  "Then she is still alive! I look forward to meeting you, Commander Ryan James - and definitely the Governor's daughter, as well."

  The monitor went blank.

  He opened a channel to his fleet. “Cancel the scramble. Friends are arriving. Leave two ships in orbit, send two other vessels to these coordinates – you may find additional parts, possibly ships along these paths.” He passed them the location information from his previous battle. “And Captain Yushtar, we need to keep moving on the repairs as time is limited.”

  Once again the ships landed. Once again teams scrambled to multiple areas to resume repairs. Captain YushTar put a small group to work on constructing a proper command center with a suspended floor and tented roof.

  “Captain, the Signite fleet will arrive within the hour, will it be finished by then?” asked Ryan.

  “It will be complete,” replied the Showmish, not one to waste words.

  He checked on Aviore one more time. He would not wake her. It could wait.

  * * *

  The temporary building was complete, and furnished with tables and chairs. The main tables were positioned in a semi-circle fashion which allowed for efficient inquisitions of prisoners.

  The leaders
assembled slowly, and quietly, acknowledging one another with nods, most weary from strenuous hours of work. They each wore what would loosely pass as uniforms, mostly tattered and torn, and stained. These rags bothered them little, for image meant little to them. If one looked close enough, it would not be difficult to witness their scars of enslavement.

  Ryan sat amongst the captains, at the apex of the semi-circle, finding a surprising closeness with his company.

  The prisoners were brought up one by one for interrogation in a continuous procession. For the most part, Ryan stayed quiet, subconsciously noting what was being said, but not getting too involved. His interest was captured when the Txtian Captain of the destroyer was escorted up. He looked a little worse for wear. Yellow blood dripped off his left mandible, his garments were tattered and burnt. Despite his appearance, he still maintained his dignity, walking with an unexpected confident stride. He towered above the Showmish, looking down at them with disdain.

  "You will all die at the hand of the Emperor for this!" he screeched in native Txtian. His voice shrilled like a whistle and clicked intermittently.

  Ryan signaled to the Showmish guard, who promptly stepped over and gave the arrogant captain a blow to the abdomen. The Txtian doubled over. When he straightened up, he spat out a stream of yellow blood onto the platform.

  Ryan leaned ahead in his chair. "You will address us in Trinarieit, Txtian."

  He focused his glare on Ryan. "What is your plan now, Signite? We have already conquered your planet. We will return to take it again. You are all just as dead, now as later."

  The Txtian followed his statement with a clicking laugh, spitting out even more yellow blood, which ran down his chin obscenely.

  Ryan spread his arms, gesturing a mock welcome. "How wise you are, I see. You believe I am from Signus. How quickly one can make assumptions. This is not my planet. And you have never had the privilege of facing me."

  For a moment the Txtian was speechless. “So you are the captain of the white ship, I presume?"

  "I am asking the questions here. We'll begin with a simple one: You're still alive when you should be dead. The bridge decompressed along with most of the other levels. Why did you survive? Perhaps you were attempting to abandon your post? Deplorable behavior for a high ranking officer - such a disgrace."

  The sarcastic words seemed to have struck a nerve in the proud Txtian Captain. The alien had no rebuke, no words to make right the obvious. He shifted about, chest no longer swollen with pride, shoulders now slightly hunched. "I was following standard military procedure."

  "You are a coward!" The effect of the translated word in Txtian seemed to drive his point home. The Txtian glowered back. His bulbous red eyes seemed to contort, turn oval in shape. His mandibles pulled wide, and the slight dark fur of its face stood on end.

  "You will all die slowly and painfully for this outrage. You will not insult a Torzon. In 10 zadii our fleet will arrive from Gedricka and crush you!"

  Ryan sat back in his chair. The Txtian realized what he had said, and he hung his head, disgusted with himself. For a moment Ryan let the silence stand, and enjoyed the cool ocean breeze.

  "Such cooperation should be commended, but I have neither the time nor the inclination. I'm sure you have many more secrets within that tiny brain of yours. We have some very proficient interrogators. I pity you will not survive. But that, I guess, is of trivial concern. The truth is Xilo is doomed. You have been successful for too long and you’ve grown arrogant. Humility is a painful lesson to learn, and we will teach it to all of you."

  With that, he waved the alien away.

  The guards pushed the Txtian off the platform, then employed the whips viciously over his back as he stumbled toward the hold. Ryan ignored the savagery, jaded to its sight. He passed a slow appraising glance to the Showmish on both his sides. Something eager danced in their eyes. It was the look of a wild animal preparing to strike.

  This information would prove helpful. Maybe they would find out more.

  They were very lucky to have captured a proud one. He doubted they would be so fortunate next time.

  Captain Roshesh commented, "Gedricka is not far away. I would guess that it is to be their new military base for this quadrant. "

  "And now we know how long we have," added Captain Hushob.

  "Yes. Not long at all,” added Ryan quietly.

  “Let us continue.”

  * * *

  The Signite Commander arrived in the late afternoon when the sun was hanging low on the horizon, glinting off the restless waves of the ocean. White trailing streaks crawled across the sky above them. Three ships, each only slightly smaller than a Xi-destroyer, roared by to settle on the beach, billowing out clouds of white sand. They had positioned themselves cautiously, farther down the shoreline.

  Ryan could see their silhouettes exiting from his vantage point on the platform. Even from a distance, he could make out their leader, who walked with an unmistakable confidence. Unlike the others that escorted him, his gaze remained focused on his destination. The dying sunlight reflected off insignia hanging thick upon his chest. As the party drew closer, he could see the officers were dressed in full uniform. Everything about them was spit and polish.

  The visitors came to a stop a few yards from the open platform. They fanned out slightly, weapons lowered, but ready. The pasty look upon their faces revealed their nervousness. Ryan walked out to meet them. The Commander stepped forward, eyes scrutinizing him thoroughly. He spoke in Trinarieit. "Tell me, what do you fear most - death or slavery?"

  "Slavery," responded Ryan, perplexed at the first exchange of words.

  "If you had said death, I may have shot you myself."

  "I'm sure you would have tried."

  "You are the pilot of the white ship?"

  "I am."

  "It is good to meet the one who single-handedly destroyed a slaver expedition and crippled a Xi-Empire cruiser. An admirable feat, even if it had been accomplished by a fleet of ships."

  Ryan smiled. "I see you are well informed, but I am at a disadvantage. Many think the Signite resistance is decimated, yet you stand here in front of me."

  "Aye, not all is as it seems. Commander Aben Lortay of the Supreme Signite fleet - at your service." He gave a stiff Signite salute, fist tight, touching the shoulder.

  Ryan returned the salute as precisely as possible, simultaneously doing his own inspection of the man now standing in front of him. The Signite Commander was probably in his late thirties. His black hair streaked with gray. His face was square, jaw strong and pronounced. His eyes were also gray and seemed to carry a glint of arrogance. Most notable characteristic about him was his air of superiority. It infected those around him. Ryan scanned over the medals he bore on his chest.

  Thousands of light-years away and the military types still wear medals. Some things never change, no matter what.

  "Good to meet you, Commander. These are my Showmish allies."

  The Signite walked down the line, bowing to each Showmish captain. One captain recognized the Signite from a meeting, from years before. The tension dropped immediately. The Signite introduced his key officers one by one. Ryan waited, a bit impatiently. Once the formalities were over, he wasted no further time.

  "I'm sorry, Commander. I regret we do not have much time for pleasantries. I have a number of plans I wish to set in motion. You are welcome to be part of them."

  The Signite Commander looked him up and down. "If I am to become part of this alliance, I assume it will be under your command?" He was staring him straight in the eye, awaiting a response.

  Ryan provided none, remaining steadfast and mute.

  "You are in command, are you not?"

  "We could always arm wrestle for it," Ryan refuted, breaking a smile.

  The Commander shrugged, a grin also on his face. “I’m afraid I’m not quite up to speed on that custom.”

  He didn’t get the damn joke. Of course not.

  YushTar steppe
d up, “We follow our Commander only,” he hissed.

  Lortay shifted his gaze over the grizzled Showmish captains.

  “I see. Tell me, Commander James, what are your qualifications for this position? Have you ever served in a military role?”

  Ryan smiled, then swung his leg onto the table. He pulled up his pant leg. “You see Commander, these are my medals.”

  The Signite uniforms shifted uncomfortably, few had experienced the pleasure of slavery firsthand.

  “I know the enemy. You don’t. You already lost, your planet, your colonies, your war - the way you make war, it’s all lost. Your medals are irrelevant here.”

  “We can join forces.”

  “We could, but I will not follow you, and neither will they.” He cast his hand across the room.

  “This war is no longer yours, it is ours.”

  The Signite Commander nodded his head slightly. “I see. You understand my choices are limited, Commander James. This fleet circling above you is all that is left. Our colonies have fallen. Any stand I take is our last. What have you to offer us that is so different?”

  “It is the same for you, me, and everyone here. I offer an honorable death. Hope offers little solace, revenge possibly, some. We do not fight for ourselves here. We fight for our children.”

  The Showmish put their fists to their chests, a show of solidarity in many ways, for Ryan’s words rang true.

  “Very well, Commander. I am, and the complete 3rd Signite Protectionary fleet, are at your disposal."

  "Good," Ryan said curtly. “Then it’s time for us to strike.”

  “Open up this area here, grab those torches, and give me a stick or something.” Someone handed him a branch and he started drawing out the quadrant on the sand that had already drifted onto the deck, talking as he worked. “Before, our tactics were simple. Hit and run. Attack, grab what we can, and move out. This is because we are working at a definite disadvantage: the lack of resources, the lack of ships."

  The group around him nodded in agreement. "For the next few months, the accrual of ships will continue to be our sole purpose. Board anything and everything. Doesn’t matter how small, as long as it can fly. The rules of engagement are simple. If you cannot board it, destroy it, and tow the parts home. In the event that your ship is captured, you will initiate a self-destruct. We all know how to set up a deadman counter. The Empire cannot obtain any information about our existence."